Kerala boy wins silver at Estonia world athlete meet

KOTHAMANGALAM - Celebrations erupted in this Kerala town after news reached here that Class 11 student Binish K. Shaji Monday won a silver medal at the World School Athletics championship held in Estonia in northern Europe.

The son of a mason, Shaji, finished second in the 200 meter race in the international event.

As soon as the news came in, the town and St. George School Kothamangalam, about 60 km from Kochi, where he studies, began celebrating by distributing sweets.

Shaji was the national champion in 100 and 200 meters, and silver medallist in the long jump events at the inter-school meet held in Kochi early this year.

This is the first time that India is participating in the world school championship and has sent a 12-member group of which five are from Kerala.

Shaji and his parents are living in a rented house.

While Shaji’s father is a mason, his mother Beena ekes out a livelihood stitching clothes at the outhouse.

“It is so gratifying to hear this wonderful news that my son has won a medal. We owe everything to god and all our well wishers who are helping us,” said Beena.

Shaji’s coach Raju Paul expressed confidence about the boy’s “immense talent” saying “he is certain to represent the country in the Olympics”.